Doberman Pinschers, Ontario, Canada

Feeding Your Dog

We feed our dogs raw meat which we order from Raw For Pets in Aylmer.

With their permission I have added some excerpts from their website (rawforpets.net)

Why feed raw?
Because you want your pet to live the longest, healthiest life possible. It’s what our pet carnivores evolved to eat. No man-made diet can hope to compare to fresh natural whole food. The benefits of a whole natural diet include improvements in multiple areas. Most people report significant improvements in all areas after switching to a whole natural diet. One of the simplest but most profound improvements is in dental health. Chewing whole raw meaty bones scrubs teeth better than brushing and flossing. The periodontal disease suffered by most commercially-fed animals leads to heart, kidney, and liver disease, in addition to the painful gingivitis and tooth root abscesses typical of the kibble-fed pet. Studies have shown that over 80% of pets have periodontal disease by the age of 2. Foul breath is one of the outward symptoms of this deadly disease from which millions of commercially-fed pets suffer and die.

Raw fed pets typically have shiny teeth and healthy mouths. Because of this, they are at a lower risk of heart, liver, and kidney disease, to name but a few.

People who switch to raw feeding are often amazed at the difference in their pets’ coats. The require less frequent bathing, smell better, and have softer thicker fur. Dogs and cats that had terrible skin issues before raw feeding often regrow their hair and heal from the chronic hot spots and infections.

Improved temperament and attitude is another reason to switch to raw. Inappropriate diets in dogs can lead to hyperactivity, difficulty in focusing, and other behavioral and training problems. Dogs switched to raw typically have more energy and endurance than before, but are calmer and easier to train.

Dangers of Raw Meat
Many people are concerned about the dangers of bacteria and parasites when feeding raw meat, eggs and dairy to our dogs.

Remember that wolves and dogs evolved to be able to cope with bacteria found in carrion and meat that has been buried for long periods. Their digestive systems are designed to move food through quickly, before bacteria has a chance to proliferate or cause problems. Bacteria such as salmonella are found in the digestive systems of as many as 40 percent of healthy dogs, including those fed only commercial foods. While these bacteria can affect dogs, it would be unusual for a healthy dog to have any problems with the bacteria found in raw meat and other products considered fit for human consumption.

There are a few parasites that might be a cause for concern, though freezing meat for a period of three weeks will destroy most of them (freezing has no effect on bacteria).
You may want to consider feeding a cooked diet to your dog if you’re concerned about the possibility of problems from raw meat, your dog’s immune system is compromised due to illness or medication, or your dog just doesn’t seem to do well on a raw diet.

FAQ’s;

Why should I feed raw to my dog?
Dogs are carnivores that evolved eating raw foods. Commercial foods are generally heat processed which alters or destroys nutrients and essential enzymes, so dog food companies try to add back what they destroyed. They don’t always know what’s missing and what proportion is best.It’s only in the last fifty years or so that people started feeding dogs commercial foods. It’s quite a coincidence that during this time dogs have developed more cancer, heart disease and allergies – just people who also eat processed foods.

Won’t raw make my dog sick?

Dogs have a short digestive system that is designed to eat raw food. Cooked, commercial dog food takes longer for dogs to digest and often ferments before it is digested

What about bacteria?

Bacteria is present almost everywhere. It only causes problems when the immune system is stressed. Dogs, and their wild ancestors, have survived eons by eating raw meat. Because they have survived by eating raw meat (sometimes rotting, dead things) it clearly shows that nature has adapted dogs to deal with the bacteria found on their food.What is the best type of raw food?

The best food for your dog may vary depending on his individual needs. The basic diet, however, should consist of mostly succulent, raw, meaty bones with the addition of some organ meat, plus a little muscle meat. Some people feel that the addition of vegetables can provide additional nutrition. However because of the design of the dog’s teeth and his digestive system he probably won’t be able to derive much nutrition from fruits and vegetables.

Can’t my dog choke on a bone?

Yes, dogs can (and have) choked on many things including bones, kibble, tennis balls, sticks, socks, etc.Dogs also break their teeth on bones, therefore, it is best to give them bones of a manageable size, which generally includes poultry, rabbits, and non-weight bearing bones of larger animals.

Are there any foods that I should NOT feed my dog?

You should NEVER feed your dog cooked bones or chocolate. Cooking makes bones brittle and dangerous. Sugars, grains and dairy products should also be avoided.

****If you choose to feed your new puppy kibble, I will send your puppy home with a week’s worth of raw food to make the transition to kibble easier****